Time circuit-controller.



1. M. ANDERSEN.

TIME CIRCU|T'CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20.1911.

I 2 SHEETS SHEET l.

1. M. ANDER'SEN.

TIME CIRCUIT CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.20. 1911.

1,299,812. 7 Patented Apr. 8, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

paratus embodying this invention, the door UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHAN M. ANDERSEN, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 ALBERT & J. M. ANDERSON MANUFACTURING eoMrANY, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS,- A COR- PORATION OF MAINE.

TIME CIRCUIT-CONTROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 20, 1917, Serial No. 143,514.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JorIAN M. ANDERsEN, a citizen of theUnited States, and a resident of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Time Circuit-Controllers, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, isa specification, like characters on the drawings representinglike parts.

This invention relates to time circuit controllers, substantially of the character shown and described in U. S. Patent No. 779249 granted to me January 3, 1905, and has for its object to provide a simple and inexpensive construction of apparatus, which is especially designed and adapted for operatmg a circuit controller having a rotatable member, whereby a small, compact, and substantially inexpensive apparatus may be obtained, I

The particular features of the invention will be pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an apof the casing being shown open.

Fig. 2, a rear elevation of the apparatus removed from its casing. V

Fig. 3, a side elevation of the apparatus looking toward the left in Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4", adeta'ilto be referred to. Referring to the drawings, (0 represents the back plate and b, the front plate of a frame work for. supporting the operative parts of the apparatus;

The time element of the apparatus comprises a clock. mechanism having a main spring 10 located in a barrel or drum 12, provided at one end with a gear 13 and closed at its other end by a gear 14,"which latter is fast on the shaft 15 upon which the barrel 12 is loosely mounted. The rotatat-ion ofthe main shaft 15 by spring 10 is controlled in the usual manner by a train of gears 16, which is connected with the gear 14 by a pinion 17 on a shaft 18.

shafts or sleeves, not shown, but similar to those shown'in the patent referred to and which are'extended through the front and rear plates of the framework and have fast on them trippingdogs 25, 26, which cooperate with'a finger 27 on the arm 28'of a lever 29, to render the main spring 10 of the clock mechanism effective to operate the rotatable member referred to.

In the present instance the rotatable member referred to comprises two hubs 30, 31, mounted on a shaft 32 to rotate therewith and provided with a plurality of sets of contact arms 33, 34, which cotiperate with a plurality of pairs or sets of circuit terminals or stationary contact arms 35, 36, which are attached to suitable supports 37 forming part of-a rotary switch of known construction.

The hub 31 has attached to it a disk 38 having thereon the words On and Off, which cooperate with an opening 39 in a cover 40 for the switch, and which cover is exposed to view when the door 41 of the casing or box 42 is open as represented in Fig. 1.

p The rotatableshaft 32'of the switch is extended through the back plate a and is supported by a cross bar 43 attached to the back plate a, and said shaft has fast on it 'a substantially large gear 44, which meshes with a smaller gear 45 mounted on a shaft 46 supported by the front and back plates.

a, b, and provided with a' pinion 47, which meshes with the gear 13 fast .on the barrel 12. The gear 45 is normally loose on the shaft 46 but is secured thereto to'rotate therewith when the shaft 46 is rotated in one direction by the main spring 10, but is connected with the shaft 46 in such manner as to permit the said shaft to be turned in the opposite direction, in order to wind up the main springv 10, without rotating the thereon, and is normally held in engagement Patented Apr. 8, 1919.

with the ratchet teeth on the hub of the gear 4-5 by a spring 56, encircling the said sleeve-between a collar 57 thereon and the ratchet disk 50.

It will thus be seen that when the main spring 10 is permitted to act as will be described, so as to rotate the shaft 46, the

,clutch member 50 fast thereon will couple the gear 15 to the said shaft, so that the said gear rotates with the shaft 46, and the rotation of the gear effects rotation of the large gear 44, its shaft 32 and the movable contact member or members 33, 34; of the rotary switch. WVhen, however, the shaft 16 is turned in the opposite direction to wind up the spring 10, by a suitable key, not shown, but which is applied to the end of the shaft 46 at the front of the framework, and shown in Fig. 1, the ratchet teeth of the clutch member click by the ratchet teeth on the hub of the gear 45 and the latter is not rotated, consequently the position of the movable contact member of the switch is not changed.

The main spring 10 drives the selective mechanism 20, 22, 23 continuously, and drives the switch operating gears 45, 44: in

termittently, and provision is made for nor--- mally rendering the spring ineffective to r0- tate the gearing which rotates the switch member. This result is accomplished as herein shown by mechanism interposed between the gear 4-5 and the tripping dogs 25, 26, and in the present instance comprises a disk mounted on the hub of the gearstli and connected to the latter to rotate therewith, said disk being provided in the present instance with substantially diametrically opposite lugs or projections 61, 62, which cocperate with a finger 63 on a detent lever 64, which is pivoted to the back plate a of the framework and is operatively connected by a pin and slot connection 65, 66, with the lever 29, which. latter may be referred to as the escape or release lever.

The release lever 29 is acted upon by a spring 70, which serves to move the said lever and normally place the finger 27 into the path of movement of the tripping dogs, and to turn the detent lever 6t so as to normally. bring the finger 63 thereon into the path of rotation of one of the projections on the disk 60. When the tripping dogs are out of engagement with the finger 27, the

finger 63 on the detent lever 64 is in the path of movement of the lugs 61, 62 011 the disk 60, and as shown in Fig. 2, the lug 61 is in engagement with the finger 63 and the disk 60 is held from rotating. As a result, the end of the main spring- 10 of the clock mechanism which is connected with the barrel 12, is stationary or anchored, while the end connected with the gear 14 is free to drive the clock mechanism and the selective mechanism,

At the proper time, the clock brings one of the tripping dogs into engagement with the finger 27 on the release lever 29, and on the continued movement of the tripping dogs, the lever 29 is turned from substantially the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. it so as to remove the finger 63 on the detent lever 64. from engagement with the lug 61., whereupon the main spring 10 becomes active to rotate the disk 60. The release lever 29 is normally out of the path of movement of the lugs 61, 62 on the disk 60, and is brought into said path when the finger 63 is removed from said path, so that the disk 60 and gear 4:5 are rotated only a short distance before being arrested by the arm 6'7 of the lever 29, see Fig. 4, which arm is removed from the path of movement of the lugs 61, 62, as soon as the tripping dog 25 or 26 passes out of engagement with the finger 27 and permits the spring 7 O to move the release lever 29 back into its normal position, shown in Fig. 2, in which a pin 72 on its arm 28 is engaged with a stud 7 5 on the back plate a. The release lever 29 on its return movement under the influence of the spring 70, turns the detent lever 64 into its normal position so as to move the finger 63 into the path of movement of the lug 62. hen the finger 63 is disengaged from the arm 67 of the lever 29, the disk 60 and gear 45 are free to be rotated substantially a half turn by the spring 10, until the lug 62 is engaged with the finger 63 of the detent lever 6st.

The gear 45 rotates the gear 44 and in the present instance these gears are proportioned so that a half revolution of the gear t5 eifects a quarter revolution of the gear 44: and of the'contact members 33, 3t attached to the shaft 32. The disk 60 and gear *5 are ro- 'tated quite rapidly by the spring 10 when the finger 63 and lever 29 release the lug 61 or 62 with which they are engaged, and the said lugs strike the finger 63 on the detent lever 6a a substantially severe blow, and to avoid danger of the finger 63 being broken off by repeated blows upon it, which would render the apparatus inoperative if permitted to occur, provision is made for cushioning the blow, and this result is effected as herein shown, by providing a spring connection between the disk 60 and the gear 45. To this end, the disk 60 is provided with substantially diametrically opposite slots 80 located adjacent to the lugs 61, 62, and through which are extended pins 83 attached to the gear 45, which pins are connected by springs 84; with pins 85 on the disk 60.

The springs 84 serve to hold one end of the slots 80 in engagement with the pins 83, so that when the lugs 61, 62 strike the finger 63, the disk 60 can be moved backward so as to diminish the force of the blow upon the said finger.

Provision is also made formanually releasing the detent lever 64 from the disk 60, and to this end I employ a reciprocating rod 86, which is provided as shown with an end portion 87 of reduced diameter, which slides in a hole extended through the stop pin 75'and is adapted to engage the stud or pin 72 on the release lever 29. The opposite end of the rod 86 is pivotally connected to one arm of an elbow lever 90, which is pivoted to a stud or post 91 on' the back plate a and has its other arm pivotally connected with the end of a push rod 92, extended through the back and front plates of the framework and provided at its front end with a suitable head or thumb piece 93.

By reference to' Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that the operator by pushing upon the thumb piece 93 moves the rod 92 so as to turn the lever 90 in one direction and move the rod 86 in thedirection of the'arrow 9%, Fig. 2, and cause the reduced end 87 of the rod to engage the pin 72 and turn the release lever 29 so as to disengage the finger 63 from the lug 61 and enable the spring 10 to turn the disk 60, so that the lug 61. engages the lever 29, and as soon as the operator removes his thumb or finger from the head 93 of the push rod, a spring 95 which encircles the reduced portion 87 of the rod 86 acts to move the latter backto its normal position shown in Fig. 2, and allows thespring 7 O to restore the release lever' 29. and the detent lever 6% to their normal positions, thereby disengaging the lever 29 from the lug 61 and permitting the spring 10 to rotate the gear and disk a half turn, so as to either open or close the switch according to what position th switch is in when the push rod 92 is operated.

lVhen the switch is under the influence of the clock, thetripping dogs 25, 26 automatically perform the same function as the rod 86. The tripping dogs 25, 26, are properlyv positioned with relation to the finger 27of the release lever by the hands orarms 22, 23, which are turned with relation to, the toothed disk 20 by the operator and locked to said disk by the fingers on the said arms entering selected slots 21in the face of. the disk 20, so thatthe clock will automatically openand close the switch at the selected or desired hours, as more fully described .in the patent referred to.

. I have herein shown one construction of apparatus embodying this invention but it isnot desired tolimit the invention to the particular construction shown Claims:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a clock mechanism having a main spring, a. main shaft to which one end of the said spring is connected. to rotate said shaft, a gear fast on said main shaft, a. second gear loose on said main shaft and with which the opposite end of said spring is connected, a pinion in mesh with said loose gear, a winding shaft on which said pinion is mounted, a gear loosely mounted on said winding shaft, a clutch to render said gear fast on said winding shaft, a rotatable switch member, a gear connecting the latter wit-h the gear on the winding shaft, a disk mova-bly connected with the gear on said winding shaft and provided with a lug, a lever having a finger coiipei'ating with said lug, a second leve'r'connected with, the first mentioned lever to actuate the same and disengage said finger from said lug, a tripping dog cooperating with said second mentioned lever, a slotted diskfast on said main shaft, and an "arm connected with said tripping dog and provided with a finger to enter a'slot in said slotted disk;

2. In an apparatusof the character. de scribed, in combination, a clock mechanism provided with a ma-in'spring, a gear connect ed with one end thereof, a pinion in mesh with said gear, a. winding shaft on which said pinion is mounted, a gear loosely mounted on said winding shaft and provided with a hub having ratchetteeth, a clutch member mounted on said shaft to rotate therewith and to slide thereon and pr0vided with ratchet teeth coeperating with the. ratchet teeth on said hub, a spring to normally keep said clutch member in engagement with said hub, a disk loose on said hub and provided with a slot, a pin extended through 'saidlslot and attached to said gear, a pin on said disk, a spring connecting said pins, a5 lug on said disk, a detent lever having a finger cofiperating with said lug, a release lever connected with said detent lever, and.aselectiveimechanism coeperatingwith said release lever and actuated by theymain spring of said clock mechanism.

3. I11 an apparatus of the-character described, in combination, a main spring, a device rotated thereby, a detent lever 00'- operatingavith said device, a release lever '00- operating with said-detent lever, a reciprocating' rod cooperating with said. release lever to actuate the detent lever and permit the main spring .to' rotate said device, an elbow lever having one arm pivotall-y connected with said reciprocating rod,=. arid a second reciprocating rod pivotallycoimected with the-other arin'of said lever.

at. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, amain spring, adevice rotated thereby, a detent levercoiipera'ting with said device, a releaselever cooperating with said detent lever to actuate the latter and engage'and disengage it with andfroin the said device, a reciprocating rod coeperating with said release lever to'moveit and thereby actuate the detent lever and permit the main spring to rotate said device,- a manually operated rod' extended, :substa n tially at right angles to said reciprocating rod and connected with the latter to reciprocate it.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a clock mechanism having a main spring and atime train operatively connected with one end of said spring and governing the action of said main spring, a selective mechanism operatively connected with the same end. of said main spring to be driven thereby, a gear connected. with the other end of said main spring to, be rotated by the said main spring, a circuit controller provided with a rotatable member, gearing for connecting said rotatable member with the gear driven by the main spring of said clock. mechanism, means cooperating with said gearing to restrain the'same from being driven by one end of said main spring while the other end thereof is driving the said selective mechanism, and meansoperated by said selective mechanism to release said gearing from restraint and permit the latter to be rotated by the said main spring.

.6, In an apparatus of the character. described, in combination, a clock mechanism having a main spring and a time train governing the action of said main spring, a selective mechanism operatively connected with one end of said main spring to be driven thereby, a gear connected with. the

other endof said spring to be rotated by the saidmain spring, a circuit controller providwith a rotatable member, gearing for connecting saidrotatable member with the gear driven by the main spring of said clock mechanism, means cooperating with said gearing to restrain the same from being driven by one end of said main spring while the other end thereof is driving the said selective mechanism, and manually operated means for releasing said gearing from restraint and permit the latter to be rotated by the said main spring.

.x'L-In' an apparatus of the character describml, in combination, a rotatable switch member, a clock a main spring, a main shaft to which one end of the said spring is connected, to be rotatedthereby, and a time train geared withsaid main shaft and governing the ac tion of said main spring, gearing for connecting said rotatable switch member with the other end of the said main spring to be operated thereby, means cooperating with said gearing for restraining said main spring from rotating said switch member,

a selective mechanism mounted on the main shaft of said clock mechanism to rotate therewith, and a releasing device for said restraining means operated by said selective mechanism to permit the main spring of said clock mechanism to effect rotation of said switch member.

mechanism provided with- 8. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a rotatable switch member, a clock mechanism provided with a main spring, a main shaft to which one end of the said spring is connected, to be rotated thereby, and a time train geared to said main shaft and governing the action of said main spring, gearing for connecting said rotatable switch member with the other end of the said main spring to be operated thereby, means coope 'ating with said gearing for restraining said main spring from rotating said switch member, a selective mechanism mounted on the main shaft of said clock mechanism to rotate therewith, a releasing device for said restraining means, and manually operated means coiiperating with said releasing device to mechanically operate the latter.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a clock mechanism provided with a main shaft and with a main spring having one end connected with said main shaft, a time train to govern rotation of said main shaft, a gear fast on said main shaft, a second gear loose on said main shaft and with which the other end of the main spring is connected, a rotatable device, gearing for connecting said rotatable device with the gear loose on said main shaft, a clutch mechanism forming part of said gearing for enabling the rotatable device to'be rotated by said main spring and for enabling the gear loose on the main shaft to be rotated to wind up the spring without rotating the said rotatable device, means for restraining said main spring from rotating said device, a releasing device for said restraining means, and a selective mechanism mounted on said main shaft to rotate therewith and cooperating with said releasing device.

10. In an apparatus of'the character de scribed, in combination, a clock mechanism provided with a main shaft and with a main spring having one end connected with said main shaft, a time train geared to said main shaft and governing rotation thereof, a gear fast on said main shaft and connected with said time train, a gear loose on said main shaft and with which the other end of said main spring is connected to be driven by said main spring, a rotatable device, gearing connecting said rotatable device with the gear loose on said main shaft, means for restraining said main spring from rotating said device, means for releasing said restraining means, and a selective mechanism driven by said main shaft and cooperating with said releasing means.

11. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a main spring, a device rotatable thereby, a detent lever cooperating with said device to restrain it from rotating, a release lever connected with said detent lever to turn the latter into operative and inoperative relation to said rotatable device and itself movable into operative and inoperative relation to said rotatable device when the detent lever is moved into its inoperative and operative positions With relation to said rotatable device, said release lever acting to engage said device and restrain it from rotating after it has been released by the detent lever, and a tripping dog for operating said release lever. 10

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

J OHAN M. ANDERSEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

